Shuttlecock machine



NOV. 13, 1945. w Ev HUMPHREY Re. 22,691

SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Wa/rerT/ /ump/rrey Nov. 13,1945. w, E. HUMPHREY Re. 22,691

' SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR Wa/ferTHump/rreg Nov. 13, 1945. w. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECOCKMACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR NOV. 13,1945. w HUMPHREY Re. 22,691

- SHUTTLECOCK MACHILNE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 -s Sheets-Sheet 5 l NV E N TO R Wa/fe/E, Humphrey Nov. 13, 1945. w. E HUMPHRE'Y Re. 22,691

SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Origipal Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig-1FINVI ENTOR Wa/fQ/"E Ha 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I fz/"eg .W. E. HUMPHREYSHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 w. E. HUMPHREY I Nov.13, 1945.

SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 HEN l:I I

INVENTOR v [gr/V259" Ef/ump/zrey Reissued Nov. 13, 1945 UNITED STATE SPATENT OFFICE SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Walter E. Humphrey, Jeannette, "2a.,assignor to Pennsylvania Rubber Company, Jeannette, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania '33 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of badminton shuttlecocks,commonly called birds. Such a shuttlecock or bird consists of a head anda vane. The head is of approximately cylindrical form, rounded at oneend to substantially spherical curvature; it is approximately an inchlong and an inch and -a quarter indiam'e'ter; it is commonly formed ofcork encased in leather (kid). The vane commonly consists-offeathers setin conical assembly, symmetrical with respect to the axis of thecylindrical head, set in ashcular succession of holes sunk obliquely inthe rear face of the head and near the Periphery of that circular rearface. When the'feathershave been set they are re-enforced and secured inassembled position by rows of stitching; and, finally, the rear face ofthe head and the stitched-together shanks :of the planted feathers arecoated with an integrating lacquer. In Letters Patent No. 2,262,045,granted November 11,

1941, on the applicatio of D. H. Pollitt, now held in common ownershipwith the invention of this application, a process is described ofapplying to the assembled shuttlecock "the lacquer coating. In thatpatent the planted feathers that constitute the vane are shown to bestitched together, in that case with two rows of stitching.

The present invention consists in machinery for sinking holes in thehead, and planting and stitching together the feathers 'that make up thevane. The objects of the invention are accuracy, speed, and economy.

In respect to the stitching together of the feathers, the inventionconsists in the provision, in combination with the feather-plantingmechanism, of means for successively twisting circumferential threadsabout the shafts of the several feathers as they are planted. Thisoperation is known in the trade as"sewing andmayeomprise the applicationof from one to three bands of thread spaced along the feather shafts. Atleast two threads are contained in a single band and these threads aretwisted betweenadjacentieather shafts so that each shaft enclosedandfirm 1y held by a .loopformed .by the twisted threads. So far as I amaware, the operation of sewing-a shuttlecock using ordinaryvlockstitching has always been performed by-hand or machine as a.separate operation from the insertion of .the feathers. The machine ofthe present invention is the first which has "been perfected [forplanting the feathers and sewing them as -.a single operation. Themachine "is shown with provision for simultaneously sewing threebands-of threads,

but in the manufacture of cheaper 'shuttlecocks one or twoibands willsufiice.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a genoral and somewhatdiagrammatic view 'in side elevation of the machine -.of the invention.Fig. II is a view :in end -'elevation and in vertical :sectlon, 'on theplane indicated at IIII, :Fig. I. Figs. III and IV are fragmentaryviewsin vertical section, "on "the planes lIL-IEI and ;IVIV of Fig. II. Figs.Vrand VI:'are fragmentary views in vertical section, approximately "onthe "plane V-V, Fig. 1 (minor departure, in Fig. "V, from that plane'will "become clear in "the course :of de scription) The two figures, Vand lV L-show certain moving parts in successive positions of operation.rFignVIwis a "fragmentary view, showing in side elevation certaincooperating parts .in organized position atza particular instant in-thecourse of operation. Fig. VII is a'view in horizontal section, on theplane VII-VII, Fig. I. Fig. VII-I is "a view in verticalasection, alsoonthe plane V-V, Fig. I, showing additional machine parts, omitted from*Figs. V and Fig. IX is a fragmentary view, corresponding to "Fig.VII-I, but showing certain moving parts in alternate position of:operation. Fig. X is a -view to :larger scale, showing in axial sectiona machine part which in VIII and IX appears 'inelevation. Figs. XI,XIII, and XIV, are fragmentary views to larger scale, "and in horizontalsection, on the plane indicated :at XI-XI, .Fig. VIII, showing certain:movable part in successive positions of operation. Figs. XV and .XVIare views in vertical section, on the plane and XVIXVI, Fig. Fig. XVIIis a view in horizontal section, beneath the bed-:plate 0f the machine,and approximately on the :plane XVIIVIEII,.=Fig.,-I. FigXVII-Iis a view:in vertical section, 011 the plane .XVI'II-.XVI II, Fig. XVII. :Figs.and XXI are fragmentary views :in vertical section on approximately "thesame plane with fig. XVIII, .but to smaller scale, illustratingsuccessive positions :of certain of the parts shown :in VIII. Fig. XXIIis a view partly in elevation and :partly in axial'sectio of the:shuttle'cock or bird, the assembly of whose parts isefi'ect-ed in theoperation-of the machine of this invention.

Referring, first, to Fig. XXII, the shuttle'cock or 'birdconsists 'ofahead 1 and of a vane composed of feathers. The feathers in conventionalmanufacture "are goose :feathers, carefully selected and trimmed 'atosubstantial identity. Each feather aconsists "of a shaft 3, bare below"and pointediat its 'lower end, andzbearin g inits upper diatelyapplied) that extends symmetrically from its opposite sides. The head Iof cork, encased in kid is penetrated through its rear face with holesin which the feathers are set; and it will be observed that the holesare sunk obliquely to the axis of the cylindrical head, so that theassembled feathers, conforming approximately to a conical surface, forman outwardly and rearwardly flaring vane for the shuttlecock.

Referring to Fig. X, a spindle 4 is shown to be rotatably mounted in abearing-block 5 that is rigidly mounted upon (cf. Fig. II) the bed-plate6 of the machine. zontally, and the bearing-block carries the spindle inobliquely inclined position. The angle at which the spindle is inclinedto the vertical is the angle at which the feathers of the vane divergefrom the vertical, as seen in Fig. XXII. The spindle 4 carries removablya chuck 1, recessed to receive with snug fit the head I of ashuttlecock, and when the chuck is in place in the spindle thechuck-carried shuttlecock head will be in position coaxial with thespindle. The pin-and-socket union shown'in Fix. X'between chuck andspindle insures precision of position of the chuck upon the spindle, androtation of the assembled parts as a unit.

Fig. I shows the bed-plate 6 of the machine to carry, spaced apart at asuitable interval, two bearing-blocks 5, in each of which is rotatablymounted a spindle 4; and, as here shown,'each spindle has mounted inplace upon it a chuck 1. While one chuck will suiiice for theperformance of the invention, a -plurality of them will, as a matter ofconvenience and expedition, ordinarily be provided. The chuck with ashuttlecock head in place within it becomes a unit, applicable to andremovable from the two spindles 4 successively. The two spindles areequipped each with a member 8 of a bevel-gear drive, and companion andcomplementary members 9 are borne by a shaft I". It is manifest that bythe pin-andsocket connection between chuck and spindle, a chuck Iremoved from one spindle may be applied to the other with precision ofplacement in the matter of angular position with respect to the axis ofturning; and that, by duplication in dimension of the two bevel-geardrives, the turning of shaft II) will effect simultaneous turning of thetwo spindles through equal ranges.

A block I l guided between ways I2 is reciprocable upon the bed-plate 6;and meansfor effecting reciprocation through a predetermined range, andin co-ordination with the movements of other parts of the machine, arein Fig. II shown in the form of a fluid pressure cylinder l3,

The bed-plate extends horiwith the stem l4 of whose piston the block His rigidly connected. On the block H a motor I5,

is mounted, and the parts are so positioned that, in the reciprocationof block II, the motor is brought to position directly above the spindle5 on the right (Fig. I) and withdrawn from such position. In the blockII a' vertically extending slideway is formed, and in this slideway aslide I6 is reciprocable (Fig. III). From slide I6 extends an arm IIthat carries rotatably a drill Ill. The drill is aligned with the drivenshaft of motor I5 and is connected with the motor shaft by an extensibleconnection. The movement of the slide IS in its slideway is controlledby a cam l9 borne by a shaft 20 that engages the lower end of the slide,and the cam l 9 shifts the slide downward against the resistance of aspring 2|. The rotation of the cam I9 is for a feather.

fected the turning of cam is effects the descentco-ordinated with theoperation of other ma-' chine parts, as hereinafter will appear. Theparts are so organized that, when a shuttlecock head has been set in achuck l and the chuck mounted on the spindle 4 to the right (Fig. I),the advance of the block II from right to left (Fig. II) will bring thedrill l8 precisely to position for drilling in the seated head a holeWhen this advance has been efof the drill I8 (which, it will beunderstood, driven by motor I5, is in rotation) and the drilling of thedesired hole in the shuttlecock head.

Furthermore, block I l continuing in the advanced position shown in Fig.II, and the turning of shaft l0 being rendered intermittent and therange of turning being controlled, and cam operation being brought intoco-ordination with spindle turning, it is manifest that as machineoperation continues a succession of holes properly spaced and incircumferential succession may be drilled in the seated shuttlecockhead. When this has been done, co-ordinated operation of cylinder l3will effect the retraction of block H. The chuck that carries theshuttlecock head, now drilled with the holes for the feathers, may thenbe raised manually from the spindle 4 to the right (Fig. I) and mountedon the spindle to the left. And it will be particularly remarked that,in consequence of the pin-and-socket union of chuck to spindle, thepreviously drilled holes in the head do not come to place at haphazard,but in definite space relationship to other machine parts, and, moreparticularly, to those machine parts next to be described.

Adjacent the spindle 4 to the left (Fig. I) the table 6 carries aslideway 22 in which a slide 23 is vertically reciprocable (cf. Figs. V,VI, VII and VIII). T Reciprocation of slide 23 is efiected by therotation of a shaft 24 made eifectivethrough a crank-disk 25 and a link26. The slide 23 carries a clamp which as the slide reciprocates closesand opens, to grasp a feather, to plant it in a previously drilled holein the head, and to release the planted feather that the cycle ofoperation may progress.

The clamp consists of two members, one of which, the member 21, isrigidly carried upon posts 29 by the slide 23, and the other, the member28, is pivotally borne by member 21 on the pin 30. The pivoted member 28of the clamp is extended, so that it becomes a lever of the first kind;and the rigidly borne member 21 and the pivoted member 28 togethercooperate, closing and openin with the movement of a pair of scissors. Aspring 3| tends constantly to open the clamp. Closing (against thetension of spring 3|) is effected by a lever 32 which is intermittentlyswung counterclockwise (Fi s. V, VI, and VIII) in its pivot bearing 33by the advance of a cam 34 borne by the turning shaft 20. The moredetailed structure of the lever 32.will be understood on comparing Figs.I, VII and VIII. A spindle 3G is rotatable in the bearing 33; with thisspindle, at one end, the lever arm that bears the numeral 32 isintegrally united; and with it at the other end the work-arm 31 of theclampcontrolling lever is integrally united; (though with provision foradjustment, as the drawings show). The operation of the several movingparts of the machine is a step-by-step operation, and, as will presentlyappear, the intermittent movement of each part is co-ordinated with themovements 0! the other parts. Referring to Fig. VIII, it

will he lunderstood that the 'crank-disk 2.5 :is at the moment at rest,with the slide-borne :clamp 21., :28 in position .to :be opened .forthereception of a Ieacher. While the clamp :is at :rest in suchposition, the turning shaft :20 carries the cam 34 from the position in'which it is, shown in VIII into-theposition shownzin Fig; V,.and=inconsequence the lever 32 swings clockwise (under gravity), and thec1amp,'released to'the vefiec't of spring 3l, opens. :Rotation ofthecam-Mcontinu'ing from the :position shown .in Fig. V to "that shownin Fig. VI, the lever :is :swung counterclockwise, .closingthe-clamp'again. the clamp closes, the .crank-diskl25 iszset.in'clockwiserotation, raising the slide 23 .to its upper limit (cf. thefull-zline position in Fig. VI) and zefiecting its descent (that .is tosay, through the position shown'in'ili'ig. 'V) to the position shown :inbroken lines 121a, 2811. in Fig. however, the slideborne clampapproaches its :lower limit .(the broken-line position of Fig. VI) ,thelever arm of the clamping member 28, descending, passes beyond therestraint of block 38 carried by arm 31 rigid with lever 32, whereuponthe spring 3! becomes effective to open the clamp, while the lever 32(from which the clamp has escaped) continues in clamp-closing position.

The engagement 'of the lever 32, *31 with the clamping member 28 is *notimmediate, but is effected through a'T- shaped block 38 that is pivotedby one extremity of its crossarm to the lever arm 81, and'that bears bythe oppositeextremity of its-cross-arm -(Fig. V) upon theleverarm-extension-ot clamping member 28. "The stem the 'T-shaped block,by abutment upon the lever arm -3|, limits the counter-clockwise turningof the block under gravity. A stop 31a, borne by and extending fromlever arm 31, limits 'the clockwise turning of block '38 and prevents itfrom swinging too far under the momentum of operation. When,in'the'descent of slide 23, "the lever-arm extension of clamping member28 has passed below the abutment-of block 38 upon it, the spring 31 isefiective to open the-clamp, as shown in dotted lines'in'Flg. V I. Whenin continued operation the clamping member rises again, the parts beingin the position shown'in Fig. VIa, the'upper end 26?) of the lever 'armof clamping member 28 bears from'beneath'upon the cross-arm of theT-shaped 'block'and turns the block clockwise, bringing the inclinedface 38a of the'stem'of the block 38 againstthe faceof the lever-armextension of the clamping member 28, thus leaving the clamping members21, 28 partly open so as to clear the feather inserted by the downwardstroke of the slide 23 as exborne upon the table 25 is recipmcablebetween ways :40. standard affords a seat in which :a feather may be:set. :point down, and a seat that will .allow the :ready removal of thefeather. Conveniently, the standard carries a .clip in rthe form-of twofingers H and-42 that extend from its upper -:end and "in the direction70f reciprocation. 'OneLfinger 41) is integrally :borne by the standard;the :other 1442) 'is pivoted at its basal'end to thestandardandat itsdistalendis advantageously provided with :a vertically extending notch43, adequate to'accommodate with snug though not tight fit the :shaft ofa feather. The pivoted finger is, by a light spring, held closedmpontherrigid-finger. IIn-theiorifice formed by thenotch in "the finger42 and'the opposed plane wface of finger M :the feathers one by one aremanually set, vertically from above. 'Figs. I and show the parts inposition for inserting atfeather. "Thisisidone, and in Fig. VII'theshaft 3 of a iiea'ther is indicated in place between the fingers.Figllmlearly:showsthe feather in place, engaged at its tip, whilethroughout the greater part "of itsextentdt stands free above theholding fingers.

A feather is so placed, and thereafter, in the ordered :operation of themachine, the standard 3 9 advances in right-to-"left traverse, asindicated in Fig. by an arrow, and in so doing brings the feather thatit*bears into position between the clamping members -2l, 28, which atthat moment stand'open and apart. Closing of the clamp 21, 28 fo1lows.Already it has been explained that aIter the closing of the clampingmembers the slide that carries th'em rises, and in this riseof-the slide2%,the feather, now clamped between members 21, 28, "is raised from itsseat between fingers li, 42. 'Thereupon, the standard-89 recedes,leaving the'way clear 'for'the descent :of 'the slide and its burden.

Reciprocation is given to standard '39 by the oscillation of ashaft 45(Fig XVII). The shaft libears integrally two arms4'6 and I1 (cf. Fig.I)A spring =18, acting upon arm '41, maintains the arm 46' :in :bearingabutment upon a cam disk 49 heme by sha'lt 20. As the cam disk turns theplained hereinafter. Figure VIII'shows'such'p'osition of the block '38and the position 'of the clamping member 28 after (the crank-disc 25 hasI raised the clamping members approximately *four fifths of "their fullupward movement. While the crank disc 25 dwells in this position, thecam 34 turns until it reaches the position shown in Figure V, whereuponthe lower end of the lever 32'passes' from the high portion of thecamxon'to the low portions to turn the lever 32 and arm 31 clockwise asviewed in Figure V'and the block 38 is released. and falls by gravity tothe horizontal position illustrated' in Figure V.

The ordered opening and closing of the clamp 21, 28 is related'both tomeans for sustaining the feather in position to be taken by the clamp,and to means for bringing a shuttlecock head to position .for thereception of a feather.

. As shown .cln .Figs. I-and a standard -39 is standard 39 reciprocates;and by organization of :theinstrumentalities described the reciprocation"of the standard is synchronized with the reciprocation of slide 23 andthe opening and closing of the clampfl, 28.

Thespindle '4 to the left -Fig. I) is so organized that when aehuck 1bearing a shuttlecock head 1 after placement upon thespindle 4 to the"right and :after the formation in the head of arcircular succession ofdrill-holes, is removed from the spindle "to therig'ht and mo ed uponthe spindle to :the left one 0f the drill-holes of the succession willbe positioned precisely and exactly beneatha feather when held inposition by the clamping members 2-1, '28; the *turning of the shaft 10is an intermittent, step-by-step turning,':and the rangeof turning ateach step is precisely that required to shift the head, whether borne bythe spindle to the right (that a successioniof holesmaybedrilled'in it)or by the spindle to the leftithat a succession-of feathers may be setin the previously drilled holes) through the angular interval betweensuccessive "featherreceiving holes inthe head. And in the intervals ofrest, between the successive steps of turning of shaft 1-0, theinstrumentalities already described act, to set the feathers -in thehead. In sequence upon the 'advance 0f the chuck-borne head to aposition which-an "unfilled hole is number three, here shown,

is indicated in Fig. VIII.

in' alignment with a feather held in the clamp 21, 28, the turning ofthe crank-disk 25 carries slide 23 downward, and drives the clampedfeather point-first into the hole, thus planting the feather in thehead. It will be understood that the attendant who initially places theangle, sufiicient to bring the next succeeding hole of the series toposition to receive the next feather; but, before the feather-plantingslide 23 descends again, other instrumentalities operate, to carryforward the gradual stitching together of the feathers assembled in thehead. Referring to Fig. XXII, three rows 309 of stitching (the number ofrows is not essential; the is exemplary) are shown, encircling theshafts 3 of the assembled feathers. Each row consists of two strands ofthread that pass, one on each side of each feather, and that are twistedtogether in the intervals between the shafts of succeeding feathers.

Re'ferring'to Fig. VIII, three identical twisters so are shown invertical stand adjacent the spindle 4 (the spindle to the left, Fig. I)and on the side that affords immediate access to the vertically standingfeather, newly set by the latest descent of slide 23. The relativepositions in plan are sufliciently indicated in Fig. XI. (Figs. XI- XIVare views in horizontal section. In these views the head of theshuttlecock is, for simplicity, shown in plan, as though its uppersurface lay in horizontal plane. That surface extends in a plane that isinclined to the horizontal, as In this particular Figs. XIXIV will beunderstood to be diagrammatic, and the showing will not be misleading).The three twisters are rotatably mounted in a hearing block 5| (Fig.XI); they are severally equipped with gear-wheels 52; the gear-wheelsare of equal size and in the meshed, and the whole assembly is driventhrough a gear-wheel 53 which, borne by a shaft 54, meshes with thelowermost of the gear wheels 52. Each twister carries a pair of needles55 that extend, from the end adjacent the work (the lefthand end, Figs.VIII, each pair are spaced apart and on opposite sides of the twisterand remote from the axis of twister rotation. The two needles of eachpair are unequal in length (as best seen in Figs. XIIXIV) and each nearits freeend is provided with an eye. The twister is axially perforate,as appears in Fig. XI.

Theshaft 54 is further equipped with a pinion 56, and pinion 56 is onopposite sides engaged by two racks 51 that extend vertically inparallelism and are reciprocable vertically in passageways provided forthem in the body of the bearing block 5|. As one or the other of the tworacks 51 is impelled powerfully upward the twisters are rotated, each inone direction or the other, while the inactive rack moves idly downward.

The bearing block 5| also reciprocates in a slideway 58 upon thebed-plate .6 in right-andleft traverse, as seen in Fig. VIII-that is tosay,

toward and away from the work.

assembly are inter- 2H), and the needles of i bearing block 5| tion ofFigs. VIII, XV, and XVI will On the side of the spindle 4 (the spindleto theleft, Fig. I) opposite the stand of twisters 59 a, yieldinganchorage 99 for thread is provided. From a suitable source of supplypairs of strands of thread 30| are carried from right to left (Fig. XI)through the axial bores of the twisters, and the threads are severallypassed through the eyes of the needles 55. The pairs of threads passthence over the face of the seated shuttlecock head I, and are securedto the anchorage 99. The threads then are drawn taut.

A twister in successive positions of operation is illustrated in Figs.XIXIV; and, since all are alike in structure and in operation, theshowing of one serves for all. Beginning with Fig. In, the'bearingblock, 5| will be understood to stand in advanced position, the positionof nearest approach to the work. The organization is such that, when thebearing block is in this advanced position, the two needles borne byeach twister 5|] lie in horizontal plane, the longer extendingdiametrically above the seated shuttlecock head, and the shorterextending tangentially with respect to the shuttlecock head, orapproximately so, and overlying the head near the rim. As shown in thedrawings, particularly Figure XI, the length of the longer needle issuch that its end projects approximately to the center of the head Iwhen the block 5| is in advanced position. The length of the shorterneedle is such that it clears the last feather previously planted, whenthe block 5| is in advanced position. (The three pairs of needles willbe understood to be disposed in three planes at different heights abovethe seated head.) In vertical line between the needles of the threepairs a drilled hole I00 lies exposed. In this so exposed hole a feather3 is, by the action of slide 23, planted. The then recedes (left toright, Figs. VIII, XI) and the parts assume the relative positions shownin Fig. XII. One of the racks 51 then is driven upward, setting thetwisters in rotation, and forming a twist in each of the pair of threads3M, as seen in Fig. XIII. The shaft I9 then turns and carries theshuttlecock head I through onestep of turning and brings a newdrill-hole |0| to position to receive a feather. The bearing block 5|then advances again to the position shown in Fig. XI. Thus the cycle oftwister operation is repeated, with a single qualification: thesuccessive turnings of the twisters are effected alternately by one andthe other of the two racks 51. In consequence, the successive twistingsare in opposite directions, and the cumulative effect at thethread-supply end of the twisters, that unidirectional turning wouldbring about, is avoided. When the last feather has been planted and thetwister withdrawn to the Fig. XIII position, the pairs of threads areremoved from the anchorage 99 and out free from the twisters, and theends gether, pair by pair.

The bearing block 5| is normally held b a spring 98 at the remote end ofits range of reciprocation upon the bed-plate 6. position shown in Figs.IX, XIIXIV. From remote position it is intermittently advanced to theposition shown in Figs. VIII and XI. This is eifected by the rotation ofshaft 29, and the intermediation of the cam disk 59 and the lever 60.The racks 51 are impelled upwardly and in alternation by the rotation ofthe shaft shaft 20, through the intermediation of the cam disks 6| and62 and the levers B3 and 54. Considerashow that,

are tied to- Such is the whilecam 62 havingengaged lever- 84 has drivenone of the racks 51 upward, therelease of the lever 63- from engagementby thecorresponding cam H has allowed the companion rack 51- to descendidly; inresponse to the rotation of pinion 581' with. which the tworacks are constantly meshed.v

Referring particularly to Figs. XVII-XXI, a motor 65, through a gearreduction 86; shaft 61, and. sprocket drive 68', drivesconstantly; thewheel 69;. which is idly mounted. upon shaft. 24'. Thesprocket-chain-drivem wheel 69'. is the common. member of. two frictionclutches; The driven-.member- 10' of one of theseclutches is in!tegrally mounted upon shaft. Z4, so that; through thisfriction clutchthe. shaft. 24 is rotated; and the. driven; member H". of: the other ofthese: friction clutches, through appropriate; gear transmission 12,.drives shaft 20'. A spring 13 of adjustable: tension gives efilcacy. tothe friction clutches'.

Rotation: of shaft; 20,: imparts step-by-step turning of shaft I throughthe narrow. angular range at which: the holes are drilled in circularsuccession. in the shuttlecock head; The means for accomplishing thisare: found in. the dogs. 14': (in: this; instance: two in. number, of.Fig. VIII) borne byshaft 2.0;.whichasshaft 20 turns makes successiveperiodic engagement. with theratchet disk:'l51 borne rigidly by shaft:[20.

'I-.o=the: end" that the several: operations of the machine shall beeffected in proper coordination, a system. of latches is arranged. to;release the shafts; 2.01 and 24 to the torque. of. the rotating clutch:member 693 in; ordered sequence. A latch 1-. enga in a tooth. a upon.the periphery: ofi theolutch-disk.;1;fl;.is effective to hold. shaft 2,from. turning; and two latches are: alternately effeotive toxholdshaft 20:from-.turning.--one:latch=, 1.6; engaging thee teeth 1 1a." and11bupon a disk 1. 1 on shaft 2%,. and the other latch, 1:9, engage ingthe, teeth Mouponz disk. 80 integrally: borne by shaft 20. A solenoid 85when. energized swings-latch 18 to release; posit-ion. Asleeve 8|, withtoothed periphery. integrally borne by; shaft is. effective as shaft 20turns,. to engage a. leven 81: and shift latch; 118=- into.rci'easepositiong. a sleeve 833 with: toothed: peripherm. integrally:borneaby. shaftv 24,,is eliective; as shaft 14. turns to: engage a-lever84 and; shift latch; 19" intone-- lease.v position. In; servicethemotor' 65: drives the disk 69-: continuously, and the: severallatches: are inordered sequence actuated to release theshafts-Mahdi4=toithe driving;torque-ofi'thamemeber. 69,, and. then toarrest them again;

Itwill: be understood. that. the latches. I62 and: 1B,. extend. in the.shaft-arresting positionsz shown inFig. XVIII-.untilit isv desired. tobegin: a shuttlecock-assemhling, operation. To start-the opera? t-ionapedal switch (not shown) islpressed and the: solenoid 8.5 isenergi'zed.Thereupon the latch 16: swings counter-clockwise, disengaging. the toothTTa and'releasingthe disk. 1]. The shaft 20 is-r,el'easedto the torqueofmember 65. andbegins to turn. At the instant the rotation of the, shaft.Wis thus-initiated;.the twister block. 5 l is-in-the: position shown inFig, IX.

Immediately. after the shaftlfl. begins to rotate thecam 62 permitstliearm 64 to. fall-and shortly thereafter the cam El raises the arm. 63and. its rack 51 whereby the three sets. of! needles are. rotated,forming a twist in. each of, the three pairsof' threads extending fromthe stem of: the featherthat preparatory to the operation. hasbeenplant'ed in the shuttlecock head; (Compare the-positions ofthe'threads Figs. XIII- and XIII.) Next, in the successive operations ofthe machine, one of the dogs I4 on the-rotating shaft 20 engages theratchet-wheel I5, turning the shuttlecock head, and bringing adrill-hole into position of vertical alignment with. the clamp 21 28:(-cf. thehole HII in Fig. Then the cam 59', turning-with the shaft 20,swings the lever 60 and advances the twister block to the position inwhich the paired threads are spread (Fig. XI) co-allow the stem ofthe-feather that is next to be planted in the head to descend betweenthem. i

While these operations are in progress, thefollowing movements areefiected in ordered successiomz. The lever 3 2, 31 swings clockwise, andunder the stress of spring 3| the clamp 21, M3 opensfully for thereception of a feather (-Fig. V) then the slide 39 shifts inright-tO-leftdirection (Fig. I) carrying a featherthat' has-beenmanuallyinserted between the fingers 4+, 42, into position between theopened clamp members. Then the lever 32, 31 swings counterclockwise,closing the-clamp'upon the feather. As'this stage inthe operation isreached; the'tooth 8-Iaon the turningsleeve 8l= (Fig. XVIII) engages andswings lever 82", lifting'the latch-13 (Fig. XIX) and releasing sha-f-t24 to-thetorque of friction clutch 69 N3 thereupon the shaft 24 is setin rotation, and the crank-disk 25- on such shaft, acting through link26; raises the slide 23; and lifts the clamped feather fromthe fingers4|; 42'; then, through the operation of-- instrumentalities abovedescribed, the fingers recede; and the slide 23", passing its upperlimit, moves downward, planting the'featherin-the shuttlecock head; Asthe clamp approaches its lower-limit of travel, the arm of clamp member28 passes below the arm or the T-shaped block 38, and the clamp opens(cf. broken-line position in Fig. VI), while the tooth afi'a'on diskcomes to abutment upon the latch 19' (Fig. XX), bringin'g the shaft 20to rest, with the-effect that the bearing block 51' and the twisters arearrested in retracted position (Figs.

IX and XIV). The rotation of the crank-disk 25 continues, and carriesthe open clamp upward and away from the planted feather, and as the disk25 approaches the end of a complete rotation, and the rising clamp movesupward from the path of the-twister needles, the tooth 83a on the sleeve83 engages andswings the lever 84, thereby raising the latch I9 and onceagain releasing the shaft- 20 to rotative stress. The shaft 20' turnsthrough a small angular range, and is arrested by the abutment uponlatch 16 of tooth 11b of the disk TI. The rotating shaft 24 issimultaneously arrested (with the clamp-bearing slide 23.returned toinitial position), by the abutment upon latch i8- of tooth 10a of thedisk Hi. In such rotation of the shaft 20 through the small, angularrange, the-bearing block 5| recedes from the shuttlecock head, tothe-position shown in Figs. IX and XII, and the threads are'drawn tautagainst the stem of the planted feat-her, and in such position they areready to be'twistedl Such isthe-cycle; of the feather-assemblingoperations, in which the shaft 20 has turned through and the shaft 24through 360.

From what has been said earlier, it'will be understood that in-- therotation of the shaft 20 through 180 the drill IB-is through the.instrumentalities of the'camll Sand the spring 2'! moved downwardthrough av hole-forming. stroke andraised again.

In repeating the cycle of operations described, as the cycle must berepeated for each feather that goes into the vane of the shuttlecock,the solenoid 85 is again energized. Again the latch 16 is released; theshaft 20 rotates; the needles 55 twist the paired threads 3M (FigJHII);the bearing block 5| advances to the position shown in Fig. XI; thefeather is introduced to the clamp; and so on.

While the operation of the machine is arrested at the end of each cycle,as described, it will be understood that, alternatively, the solenoidmay be continuously energized (the pedal switch may be held incircuit-closing position), and the cycles repeated without intermission;that is, after the first feather has been planted, and the otherwisefree ends of threads 3! have been fastened to the member 99, theoperation may be continuous.

It is noteworthy that the machine is readily adapted to the assembly ofvanes having a greater or less number of feathers than here illustrated.It is simply necessary to apply to the shaft lo a ratchet-wheel Whoseteeth correspond in number to the feathers in the vane to be assembled.All of the several operations of the machinethe drilling of the holes inthe shuttlecock head, and the planting and stitching of the feathers-arewithout other provision or adjustment properly coordinated.

Recurring finally to the fluid pressure cylinder l3 by which the block His reciprocated, it is manifest that a control valve may be providedwhich, subject to the rotation of shaft I-U, will effect the recessionof the block I I when a shuttlecock head borne by the spindle to theright (Fig. I) has received its complement of drilled holes. Suchelaboration, however, is hardly necessary, since an attendant canreadily at proper time shift such control valve to cause the block II at4. In a shuttlecock-building machine, and in combination with a seat fora shuttlecockhead, a feather-planter including ways, a slidereciprocable in said Ways, a clamp borne by said slide, yielding meansfor maintaining the clamp in normally open position, a clamp-closinglever, a T-shaped block pivoted by one arm to said lever and limited inpivotal movement in one direction by abutment of the stem of the T uponthe lever, the clamp throughout a portion of its range reciprocationbeing engaged by the free arm of the T-shaped block and in furthertraverse passing beyond such engagement and abutting upon the stem ofthe T-shaped block and the clamp in its return reciprocation engagingfrom beneath the free arm of the T-shaped block, and means proper timeto recede and allow the removal of a completely drilled head, and toadvance again when a fresh and undrilled head has been set in place.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine forbuilding shuttlecocks two spindles rotatably mountedin suitable support, means for efiecting simultaneous turning of the twospindles through equal angular ranges, each spindle being adapted toreceive and carry 2.

shuttlecock head, means for sinking a hole in a shuttlecock head carriedby one of said spindles, and means for planting a feather in a hole sunkin a shuttlecock head carried by the other of said spindles.

2. The structure of claim 1, the hole-sinking means including a drillreciprocable in synchronism with spindle rotation, and thefeatherplanting means including a clamp reciprocable in synchronism withspindle rotation. v

3. In a machine for. building shuttlecocks two spindles rotatablymounted in suitable support means for efiecting simultaneous turning ofthe two spindles through equal angular ranges, a chuck adapted toreceive a shuttlecock head and applicable to either of the two spindleswith the axis of the shuttlecock head aligned with the axis of spindlerotation and in predetermined positions within the range of turning ofthe seated shuttlecock head upon such axis, means for sinking a hole ina r to one of said spindles, and 'means for planting a feather in a holesunk in a shuttlecock head when applied to the other of saidspindles.

shuttlecock head when applied other of said spindles 1 hole sunk in aseated for effecting coordinated reciprocation of said slide and swingof said lever.

- 5. In a shuttlecock-building machine the cornbination of a support, aspindle rotatably mounted in the support, means for imparting to thespindle intermittent, step-by-step turning, reciprocablefeather-planting means arranged adjacent to said spindle, a reciprocableand rotatable twister arranged adjacent to saidspindle, and means foreifecting operation of the said parts in ordered sequence, as followsr(1) turning of the spindle, (2) forward reciprocation of the twister,(3) downward and upward reciprocation of the feather-planting means, (4)rear-' ward reciprocation of the twister; and (5) rotation of thetwister.

6. In shuttlecock-building machinery and in combination with a rotatableseat for a shuttlecock head, a twister for applying a stitching of'thread to the shafts of a succession of feathers set in a seated head,such twister including a support, an axially perforate rotatablecylindrical body axially reciprocable in said support, said body beingprovided with a plurality of eyed needles projecting longitudinally fromone end of the body and spaced apart relatively to the axis of rotation.

7. In a shuttlecock-building machine the combination of a support, twospindles rotatably borne by said support, means for imparting to thespindles simultaneous and intermittent turning through successivepredetermined and equal ranges, a seat for the head of a shuttlecockapplicable to and removable from either of the two spindles inpredetermined position with respect to the range of turning, meansreciprocable above one of said spindles for sinking a hole in a seatedshuttlecock head, means reciprocable above the for planting a feather ina shuttlecock, the last-named means including a clamp and means foropening and closing the clamp in ordered sequence in the course of thereciprocation thereof, a feather carried reciprocable to and fromposition of cooperation with said feather-planting means, and arotatable thread-twister reciprocable in a plane above the face of ashuttlecock head seated in the second of said spindles, means foreffecting reciprocation of the hole-sinking means during spindles, andmeans for the twister, (7) rotation of thetwister, and (8) subsequent totherise of thefeather-planter.

8. In a shuttlecock-making machine, the combination of anintermittently. rotated chuck for holding the head of a shuttlecock, avertically reciprocating gripper to insert a feather in the head. whilethe head is at rest and to release the feather thereafter, and. a sewingmechanism, said mechanism having means for forming an open loop over thehead through which the feather shaft is inserted by the gripper andmeans for contracting the loop about the feather shaft and twisting thethreads.

9. In a shuttlecock-making machine,.the combination of an intermittentlyrotated chuck for holding the head of a shuttlecoclnasewing mechanismcomprising a reciprocating needle carrier, two spaced needles on thecarrier adapted to be moved by the carrier over the head, each needlebeing adapted to carry a thread, reciprocating means to plant afeatherinthe head between the needles whenthe needles are over the head, andmeans operative when the needles are withdrawn from the head. to rotatethe needle carrier and twist the threads together between successivefeathers.

10. A. machine for making shuttlecocks comprising the combination of amechanism for planting a plurality of feathers inthe head of theshuttlecock anda plurality of sewing mechanisms and operatingconcurrently therewith for applying a plurality of circumferential bandsof twisted threads simultaneouslyabout the shafts of the feathers.

11. A machine for making shuttlecocks comprising the combination of amechanism for plantingv a plurality of feathers successively in the headof the shuttlecock and av plurality of sewing mechanisms operatingconcurrently therewith for applying a plurality of circumferentia1 bandsof twisted threads simultaneously about the shafts of thefeathers asthey are successively planted in the head.

,12. In a shuttlecock-making machine an intermittently rotated holderfor the head of the shuttlecock, means for planting a feather in thehead at each period of rest of the head, a needle carrier movable towardand from the head while it is at rest, spaced needles in the carriereach adapted to hold a thread, said needles forming a loop through whichthe shaft of the feather is inserted when planted in the head, meansoperative thereafter to withdraw and rotate the needle carrier andthereby twist the threads together at the side of the feather, and meansto advance the holder after each twisting operation.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 in which the needle carrier. isrotated in reverse directions for successive cycles of the operation.

14. In a shuttlecock-making machine, an intermittently rotated holderforthe head of the shuttlecock, means for planting a feather in the headat each period of rest of the head, a needle carrier movable-toward andfrom the head while it is at. rest, a plurality of aligned sets ofspaced needles in the carrier,.each set of needles adapted to hold twothreads and to form a loop of the threads, the shaft of the featherpassing through all of the loops when the featheris planted in the head,means operative thereafter to withdraw the carrier and rotate the setsof needles and thereby twist the several sets of threads-together at theside of the feather, and means to advance the holder after each twistingoperation.

15.. In a shuttlecock-making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head ofia shuttlecock, means. for successively. planting the shaftsof feathers. in. circumferentially spaced relation around said. head,means for looping a pair of threads in oppositedirections around theshafts of adjacent feathers, and driving means operating said plantingmeans and said looping means alternately in apredetermined timerelation.

16. Ina shuttlecock -making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe'head of a shuttlecock, means for successively planting the shafts offeathersin'circumferentially spaced relationarcund said' head means forsimultaneously looping a plurality of' pairs of threads about theshaftsof' adjacent feathers in' spaced relation along the shafts withthe threads of each pair extending in opposite directions around eachfeather shaft, and driving means" operating said planting means and saidlooping means alternately in a predetermined time relation.

1'7. In a shuttlecock-making machine, means for supporting andintermittently rotating the head of a shuttlecock, means for planting afeather in thehead at each pause of the head supporting means, andadevice'for twisting threads about the shafts of the feathers as theyare successively planted in the head, said device. comprising a needlecarrier; a pair of needles in the carrier each adapted to hold a.thread, means to move the carrier toward" and" from the head, one ofsaid needles being relatively long so as to pass over a portion of thehead when the carrier. is advancedtoward the head; the other needlebeing relatively short so as toclear a. feather which has been plantedin the head, and'means to rotate theneedl'e carrier after a featherhasbeen planted in the head and after the carrier has been withdrawn.

18. In a shuttlecock-making and sewing machine, a holder for the head ofa shuttlecock, a pair of needles each adapted to carry a thread, meansto plant a series of feathers in a circle in' the head, meanstoreciprocate the needles toward and from the holder, the end of oneof'saidneedles in. its advanced position toward the head being. withinthe circle formed by'the feathers and. the end of the-other needle lyingoutside of the said circle and means to manipulate the needles tointerlock the threads after each feather planting operation andafter theneedles have beewithdrawn from the head.

19.. In a shuttlecock-maki'ng machine, means for receivingand'supporting the head of a. shuttlecock, means forsuccessivel'yplanting the shafts of feathers in circumferentially spacedrelation around said head including a reciprocating slide having afeather clamp pivoted thereon and means for holding the clamp closedduring the feather-planting operation including means for releasing. theclamp after the lapse of a predetermined time followingv thefeather-planting operation and, means operated by movement of' the slidefor releasing the clamp immediately on the completion of afeather-planting operation.

20. In a shuttlecock-making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of ashuttlecock, means for successively planting the shafts offeathers in circumferentially spacedrelation around said. head includinga reciprocating slide having a feather clamp pivoted thereon, means. foroperating the" clamp to grip a feather during the: feather-plantingoperation: including a cam and. a cam. follower, the cant having a highportion which passes the follower only after a predetermined timefollowing the completion of a feather-planting operation. and meansactuated by the follower for holding the clamp in gripping position,said means having sliding bearing on the clamp, and a shoulder on saidclamp positioned to trip said detent on completion of a feather-plantingoperation.

21. In a shuttlecock-making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of a shuttlecock, means for successively planting the shafts offeathers in circumferentially spaced relation around said head includinga reciprocating slide having a feather clamp pivoted thereon, a/cam, anarm actuated by said cam, a tilting detent on operation to open saidclamp partly, said cam thereafter permitting the arm to tilt wherebysaid detent returns to its initial operative position.

22. In a shuttlecock making machine, the combination of anintermittently rotating chuck for holding the head of the shuttlecock,means for inserting a feather anda sewing mechanism, said mechanismhaving means for forming an open loop over the head through which thefeather shaft is inserted and for contracting the loop about the eathershaft and twisting the threads.

23. In a shuttlecock making-machine, the combination of anintermittently rotating chuck for holding the head of a shuttlecock,means for inserting a succession of feathers in the head, and aplurality of sewing mechanisms operating to form loops about thefeathers as they are sucinserted so as to provide a plurality ofcircumferential bands of thread connecting the feathers.

24. In a shuttlecock making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of a shuttlecock, means for successively planting the shafts offeathers in circumferentially spaced relation shuttlecock, means forsuccessively planting the shafts of feathers in circumferentially spacedrelation around said head, sewing means for nately in a predeterminedtime relation.

26. In a shuttlecock making machine, means supporting the head of ashutwith the shaft extending through said loop, said sewing means actingto thereafter twist the threads around said feather shaft, and drivingmeans operating the feather planting means and the sewing means in apredetermined time relation.

27. In a shuttlecock making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of a shuttlecock, means for forming a loop in one of a pair ofthreads adjacent said head, means for planting the shaft of a feather insaid head with in the head while it is at rest, I

forming means including a holder, a pair of,

spaced needles extending side-by-side from said holder, means mountingsaid holder for rotation about an axis intermediate the needles andmeans for shifting said mounting means along said axis toward and fromsaid head-receiving means and rotating said holder in a predeterminedtime relation to the operation of said feather-planting means.

28. In a shuttlecock making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of a shuttlecock, means for forming a loop in one of a pair.

of threads adjacent said head, means for planting the shaft of a featherin said head with the shaft extending through said loop, means wherebysaid loop-forming together around said along said axis toward and fromsaid head-receiving means and rotating said holder in a predeterminedtime relation to the operation of said feather-planting means, wherebythe longer needle advances beyond the shaft of the last feather plantedand the other needle stops short of it.

29. In a shuttlecock making machine, means for receiving and supportingthe head of a shuttlecock, means for successively planting the shaftseathers in circumferentially spaced relation around said head includinga reciprocating slide having a feather clamp pivoted thereon, andclamp-operating means including a crank arm, a detent thereon adapted toengage the clamp and hold it closed as it descends until the clamppasses off of the detent at a predetermined point in the 30. In ashuttlecock making machine, means for receiving and supporting the headof a shuttlecock, means for successively planting the shafts of feathersin circumferentially spaced relation around said head including areciprocating slide having a feather clamp pivoted thereon, andclamp-operating means including a crank arm, and a detent thereonadapted to engage the clamp and hold it closed as it descends until theclamp passes off of the detent at a predetermined point in the travel ofsaid slide, thereby releasing a feather gripped by the clamp.

31. In a shuttlecock making machine, the combination with a chuck forreceiving the head of a shuttlecock, means for rotating the chuck insteps, and means for inserting a feather in the head between successivesteps, of a spindle movable toward and from said chuck having spacedneedles projecting from am end thereof, and means for actuating saidspindle in timed relabe inserted and then tighten the loop.

32. In a shuttlecock making machine the combination of a mechanism forplanting feathers successively around the rim of a shuttlecock head, asewing mechanism for looping thread around each featheras it is plantedso as to provide a circumferential band of thread connecting thefeathers, and driving means for operating said feather plantingmechanism and sewing mechanism in a predetermined timed relation.

Y 33. In a machine for making shuttlecocks, the combination of anintermittently rotating chuck for holding the head of a shuttlecock,mechanism for planting feathers successively around the rim of theshuttlecock head, a sewing mechanism for looping thread around eachfeather as it is planted so as to provide a circumferential band ofthread connecting the feathers, and driving means for operating theintermittently rotating chuck, the feather planting mechanism and thesewing mechanism in a predetermined timed relation.

WALTER E. HUMPHREY.

